NY GIANTS: The Giants' run game is built primarily around man-on-man power blocking. The backfield has been shuffled a bit with the plodding Brandon Jacobs out and explosive rookie David Wilson in. But despite the fact that they burned a first-rounder on Wilson, Ahmad Bradshaw is still expected to handle the majority of the snaps. Bradshaw has become decent as a blocker and receiver, while Wilson has a long way to go in blitz pick-up. When they run near the goal line, Bradshaw will be the primary back, a role he spilt with Jacobs last season. D.J. Ware will pick up some passing down scraps, but will spend most of the game on the sidelines unless Bradshaw or Wilson gets hurt. The key players in offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride's complex passing game have meshed nicely. They might run a little less of their three-wide base this year with Mario Manningham out and rookie Rueben Randle in. Victor Cruz, who is effective inside and out, will slide to the slot when Randle is on the field, and Cruz will be Eli Manning's top target; Manning has always relied heavily on his slot guys. Hakeem Nicks is strictly on the perimeter as a big-play threat and will also be targeted frequently. Manning uses his tight ends as safety blankets, though new TE Martellus Bennett is more of an up-the-field threat with inconsistent hands. They'll run a handful of screens to all three backs, but Bradshaw is relied on for blitz pickup. Nicks was Manning's favorite red zone target a year ago, and he should be again in 2012. The Giants have nearly 100 sacks over the past two seasons, with stars Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck (when healthy) anchoring what's arguably the NFL's best defensive line. Pierre-Paul is the most athletic lineman in the league, able to rush the quarterback, tackle, bat down passes and force fumbles. Tuck, meanwhile, has vowed to be in the best shape of his life to start 2012, in an effort to prevent a second straight injury-marred campaign in which he saw limited snaps. Then there's Osi Umenyiora, who is usually good for about 10 sacks despite the fact that he's on the sidelines for many running downs. The secondary will get a boost from the return of cornerback Terrell Thomas, whose 21 passes defensed in 2010 ranked third in the NFL. Antrel Rolle played safety and some slot corner last year, but the return of Thomas, who tore his ACL last August, should allow Rolle to play more exclusively at his natural safety position in 2012.

WASHINGTON: The Redskins had to go away from the running game because they fell behind early and often last year, but their preference is to rely on their vaunted zone-blocking scheme. They generally settle on one feature back at the beginning of each game, but there's no guarantee who it will be week-to-week. Roy Helu enters the year as the heavy favorite for carries, followed by Tim Hightower and Evan Royster. All three are capable of playing three downs. Royster might be an option in the red zone later in the year, but at this point Helu and Hightower are the backs who have goal line experience. Robert Griffin III is an excellent fit in the passing game of head coach Mike and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. They want their quarterbacks to move around and throw on the run, and Griffin can do exactly that. Washington has shuffled its receiving corps. Santana Moss has a chance to be the No. 1 receiver by design, and he will move to the slot when they go three-wide. Pierre Garcon will stretch the field (Griffin threw a lot of deep balls at Baylor) with Leonard Hankerson a deep threat on the opposite side. Josh Morgan is likely the odd man out, especially since the Redskins will play a lot of two-TE sets. Because TE Fred Davis runs more WR routes, Helu could end up being Griffin's safety valve. The Shanahans love to put their quarterback on the move near the goal line too, and Griffin will have the option of a short pass or trying to punch it in himself. This will be a new-look defense with safeties LaRon Landry and O.J. Atogwe replaced by free agents Madieu Williams and Tanard Jackson. Cedric Griffin also improves the DB unit. Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo are skilled pass rushers, but the Redskins face a tough schedule this season. Meanwhile, any thoughts last year that London Fletcher may be slowing down were erased by a big finish, in which he racked up 86 total tackles over the last seven games. Fletcher's heir apparent, perhaps as early as 2013, appears to be Perry Riley, who was great last season after earning a starting spot (63 total tackles over eight starts). One of two significant returnees to the secondary is DeJon Gomes, who proved to be a capable tackler with 28 total tackles in his five starts. He has the ability to play strong safety as well as nickel corner. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall, meanwhile, is so overaggressive that opposing quarterbacks can't resist throwing at him.

Robert Griffin III gave the New York Giants plenty of trouble the first time he faced the Super Bowl champions.

The Washington Redskins rookie superstar believes he may be even more lethal in this rematch.

Griffin and the Redskins can win their third straight Monday night as they try to pull within one game of the Giants in the NFC East race.

The No. 2 overall draft pick's introduction to divisional play was a 27-23 loss at New York (7-4) on Oct. 21. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 258 yards and two scores and also ran nine times for 89 yards.

"It's a game we felt we should have won," Griffin said. "And we didn't win it, they got the win in their column and we got the loss."

That contest started a three-game slide for Washington (5-6), which has bounced back with consecutive NFC East victories behind its quarterback. Griffin threw four TD passes in each win in a five-day span over Philadelphia and Dallas, with the Redskins totaling 69 points.

"He is one of the best dual threats in our game today and we're going to have our hands full trying to stop that guy," Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said.

Griffin has doubled his season touchdown pass total over his last two games. Fellow rookie Aldrick Robinson has two TD catches in that span while Pierre Garcon, who missed the first meeting with a foot injury, is back and caught a 59-yard touchdown pass from Griffin in last Thursday's 38-31 win over the Cowboys.

New York allowed 248 yards rushing in October - its highest total yielded in three seasons. The Redskins are second in the NFL with 162.9 rushing yards per game behind rookie Alfred Morris, and now Griffin believes their passing attack is improved.

"The things they faced facing us the last time with the running game are still there but we've added elements in the passing game that make us more dangerous," Griffin said. "So they'll prepare for that and we'll see what happens."

While Griffin excelled the last time these teams met, the contest will be remembered for Eli Manning's game-winning 77-yard touchdown pass to Victor Cruz with 1:13 left. It came 19 seconds after Griffin hit Santana Moss for a 30-yard go-ahead score.

Manning received plenty of credit for the clutch play, but not from DeAngelo Hall. The cornerback said the defense blew the coverage, and that the Redskins "gave him that play."

Hall repeated his claim Wednesday.

"I could've made that throw," Hall said. "Eli's made a lot of great throws in his career, but like I said, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the guy was wide-open."

Not surprisingly, the Giants had a different viewpoint of the play.

"It was something that wasn't given to us," said Cruz, who is tied for the NFC lead with eight touchdown receptions. "The guys were in coverage, they were chasing after me, they were in position to potentially make plays on the ball, but unfortunately for them, they didn't do so."

Although Washington is allowing 301.4 passing yards per game for the second-worst mark in the NFL, Hall believes his defense matches up well against Manning. There may be something to that claim since the two-time Super Bowl MVP had only one touchdown to eight interceptions in a five-game stretch against the Redskins, including last month's contest before his strike to Cruz.

The pass to Cruz was Manning's last TD before a three-game stretch without one. The quarterback emphatically ended his drought Sunday with three scores and 249 yards as New York returned from the bye with a dominant 38-10 victory over Green Bay.

One negative for New York was that running back Andre Brown was lost for the season with a broken leg. Brown only has 385 yards, but he leads the NFC with eight TDs on the ground.

That opens the door for rookie first-round pick David Wilson to get more action. Wilson carried a season-high six times for 13 yards last Sunday.

"It's his time," coach Tom Coughlin said. "The timing as far as where he's coming from couldn't be any better, I don't think."

The Giants had a five-game win streak at FedEx Field snapped with a season-opening 28-14 loss last year. New York is two games in front of Dallas and Washington in the East.

"I think the stadium will be rocking, it'll be a great atmosphere Monday night," Manning said. "And it's a huge game for us, a chance to build a little bit more lead in the division for us."